Sewing machine and attachment therefor



Dec; so, 195'"? R. H. VAN WAGENER SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACK-WENTTHEREFOR Filed Feb. 27, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET l RaymofiJEVblW r Dec. 30,1952 R. H. VAN WAGENER SEWING MACHINE AND ATTACHMENT THEREFOR Filed Feb.-27, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 SEWING MACHINE ANDATTACHMENT THEREFOR Raymond H. Van Wagener, Stamford, Conn., as-

signor to The Singer Manufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. J., acorporation of New Jersey Application December 27, 1950, Serial N 0.202,828

14 Claims. (Cl. 112-101) This invention relates to improvements insewing machines and, more particularly, to a mechanism for periodicallyindenting an edge of the work being stitched, thereby to produce in thework a shell-edge effect, and at the same time laying a cord along theindented work edge so that the cord will be secured to the work by meansof these stitches.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a sewing machine with acombined workedge indenting and cord-laying mechanism which may beinexpensively manufactured and readily applied to existing type sewingmachines.

With these and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, theinvention comprises the devices, combinations and arrangements of partsdescribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, which illustratea preferred embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 represents a front side elevation, partly in verticallongitudinal section, of a portion of a sewing machine containing theimproved Work-surging and cord-laying mechanism.

Fig. 2 represents an enlarged fragmentary top plan view, partly insection, along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents an enlarged fragmentary top plan view partly insection, along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 represents a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially alongthe line 4--4 of Fig. 2.,

Fig. 5 represents a detail view showin the presser-foot and feed-dog inside elevation and the throat-plate in section.

Fig. 6 represents a bottom plan view of the presser-foot of the machine.

Fig. 7 represents a sectional view taken substantially along the line'l-'! of Fig. 2.

The present improvements have been embodied in a lock-stitch sewingmachine of the class disclosed in the United States patent of F. W.Breul, No. 2,424,793, July 29, 1947. The sewing machine has a frameincluding a bedplate ill, from one end of which rises a hollow standardII of a bracket-arm terminating in an overhanging head I2. Journaled forvertical reciprocation in the head I2 is a needle-bar I3 carrying at itslower end a needle I4. Also mounted in the head I2 is the usual sprinbiased presser-bar l5 carrying at its lower end portion a presser-footI6.

The needle I4 operates through. a suitably apertured throat-plate ll,secured upon and forming with the bed-plate In a work-support. ,Disposedbelow the throat-plate I! and complemental to the needle I4 in theformation of lock-stitches, is a rotary loop-taker I8 of the rotary hooktype and having a thread-loop seizing beak Is. The rotary loop-taker I8:rotates twice for each needle reciprocation and casts theneedle-thread-loops about a mass of under thread contained in athread-case 20 journaled in th loop-taker and restrained againstrotation therewith.

The loop-taker I8 is suitably secured upon one end of a horizontalloop-taker shaft 2|, which is rotatably journaled in spaced bushings 22,22. The bushings 22, 22 are suitably secured in a wall 23 depending fromthe bedplate I 0; said wall 23 forming a portion of a gear casingproviding a lubricant chamber 24. At its end opposite the loop-taker I8,the loop taker shaft 2! carries a spur gear 25 disposed within thelubricant chamber 24.

In mesh with the spur gear 25 are teeth 26 provided internally of aflange 2! of a driving gear wheel 28; said gear wheel 28 being disposedin the lubricant chamber 24 and adapted to dip into a supply oflubricant contained in said chamber. The driving gear wheel 28 issecured in a suitable manner upon one end of a horizontally disposedbed-shaft 29, which rotates once for each needle reciprocation. Thebed-shaft 29 is journaled adjacent the gear 28 in a bearing-bushing 30secured in another gear casin wall 3| depending from the bed-plate l0.

Suitably secured upon the outboard end of the bed-shaft 29 is aperipherally grooved pulley 32 engaged by a driving belt 33 of thesewing machine in the usual manner.

Th Work is intermittently advanced across the Work-support by adifferential feeding mechanism including feed-dogs 34 and 35, both ofwhich feed-dogs operate through suitable feed slots 36 provided in thethroat-plate ll.

The feed-advance and -return movements are imparted to the feed-dogs 34and 3-5 by means of suitable mechanism including a pair of eccentrics 31and 38, while the feed lift movements are imparted to the feed-dogs bymeans of a third eccentric 39. The eccentrics 37 and 38 are disposedadjacent each other upon the bedshaft 29 and are generally similar inconstruction to the feed-advance eccentric construction disclosed morefully in the United States patent of W. Myers, No. 2,128,031, August 23,1938. The feed-lift eccentric 39 is also mounted upon the shaft 29 andthus, from the foregoing description, it will be understood that thefour-motion feed movements are imparted to the feed-dogs 3t and by theeccentrics 3?, 38 and 39 through the medium of conventional mechanismwhich is not disclosed herein. By adjustment of the respectiveeccentrics 3i and 33, the feed-dogs 34 and 35 may be caused to haveunison workadvancing movements, or either to full or stretch the work byimparting differential movements to the feed-dogs all in a manner asdescribed in the above noted Breul Patent No. 2,424,793.

The flange 27 of the loop-taker driving gearwheel 28 is providedexternally with spiral threads it to form a worm in driving engagementwith the teeth of a worm wheel t! which extends downwardly through anopening t2 in the bed-plate Hi.

This worm wheel i! is suitably secured upon a cross-shaft 23 extendingtransversely of the bedshaft 29 and disposed above the bed-plate it. Thecross-shaft 53 is suitably journaled in a generally rectangular housingbracket i l; the bracket M rising from the bed-plate ill and beingsuitably secured thereon by screws M. The top portion of the bracket 44is closed by a cover-plate 45 secured by screws as at (it.

Secured upon and for rotation with the crossshaft 53, within the bracketM3 is an eccentric i'i embraced by a strap at one end of a pi-tman 38.At its other end, the pitman 48 is pivotally connected by a pivot bolt 9to a crank-arm 5b journaled intermediate i-ts ends upon a stub-shaft 5|which is suitably secured in the front and rear walls of the bracket 3The lower end portion of the crank-arm 5b is pivotally secured, as bymeans of a bolt 52, to a connecting link 53 which, in turn, is pivotallyconnected by means of a pin 56 to an endwise reciprocatory slide-bar 55.The slide-bar 55 is slidably mounted in an internal bracket lug 56 andan external bracket boss 5? for reciprocation transversely of the lineof seam formation of the machine; said slide-bar 55 being disposed abovethe bed-plate i ii and substantially parallel to the bed-shaft 29.

For a more complete disclosure of the mechanism for reciprocating theslide-bar 55, reference may be had to the above noted Breul Patent No.2,424,793.

In accordance with the present invention, the distal end portion of theslide-bar 55 is provided with a reduced shank 58 which is adapted toreceive thereon a boss member 59 which is provided with a suitablyshaped hole 68 for receiving the member 53. For locking the boss 59 uponthe member 58, the boss is provided with a suitable set screw 6i.Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the boss 59 is provided with acylindrical aperture 62 in which is slidably mounted a cylindricalplunger 63. The forward end portion of the plunger 63 is provided with alug 6d and by referring particularly to Figs. 3 and 4, it is to beunderstood that the lug fi l, as well as its plunger 63, is providedwith a vertically disposed slot 65 for receiving therein an edgewisevertically disposed work-edge indenting element or hemdeflecting blade66. This blade is provided with an aperture 67 for receiving therein ascrew 63 which is threaded directly into the lug 64 for looking theblade 65 in its proper position. By referring particularly to Fig. 4, itwill be noted that the boss 59 is provided with a vertical slot 69 forreceiving therein a rear finger portion B8 of the blade E58, whichfinger portion enters the slot 56 so as to prevent the plunger 63 andthe blade 56 from turning within the aperture 62. In this connection, itwill be noted from Fig. 4 that the boss 59 is provided at its under sidewith a flat face it which is disposed in substantial contact 4 with thethroat-plate ll thereby to prevent the slide-bar 55 from turning aboutits longitudinal axis. Still referring to Fig. 4, the lower forward edgeportion '62 of the blade 86 is substantially in contact with thethroat-plate H and the upper edge of the blade is downwardly inclined,as at 73, thereby to provide a narrow work-engaging edge.

The forward portion of the blade 56 is provided with a cord-guiding eyel'li, the function of which will be hereinafter described in moredetail. The rear end of the plunger 53 is provided with a centralthreaded aperture l5 which receives therein a threaded stud it having ahead portion "H. For locking the head '5'! in selective positions ofadjustment relative to the plunger 63, there is provided on the stud 76a threaded nut F8 which, when abutted against the end portion of theplunger 63, locks the stud within the plunger. Surrounding the plunger63 and disposed between the boss 5d and the nut "E8 is a coil spring 19which functions to bias the plunger crosswise of the direction of seamformation and away from the stitching area.

The feed-dogs and 35 are opposed by the bottom or sole-plate portion ofthe presser-foot l6 which is provided with a combined needleandblade-clearance slot 33 which is disposed in alignment with the blade 63and the needle I i. Formed within the sole-plate of the presser-foot isa workclearance notch M which extends transversely of the presser-footto communicate with the combined needle and blade notch or slot 80. Thisslot Si divides the sole-plate into a forward workengaging portion 32and a rearward work-engaging portion 83. The sole-plate is pivotallyattached to the presser-foot shank 84 by means of a conventional pivotpin 85 which is, in turn, secured to the lower end of the presser-bar I5which is endwise movable in the bracket-arm head 12 and spring depressedin a conventional manner.

Disposed in front of the presser-foot it is a conventional scroll hemmer86 having its shank 81 secured to the bed-plate It in a suitable manner.The delivery end of the hemmer 86 is located to direct the hem fold H,formed by the hemmer in the work W, under the sole-plate of thepresser-foot ina conventional manner.

Suitably secured upon the bed-plate Ill at a location forwardly of thebracket i4 is an elongated arm 88 having a plurality of apertures 89, 89therein which function as cord-guidin eyes for the purpose of directinga cord C from a source of supply to the stitching area in a manner aswill hereinafter be described.

' In the operation of the present machine, the slide-bar 55 and,consequently, the blade 66 perform one complete reciprocation during theformation of a plurality of stitches, as for example, six stitches.During its advancing movement, the blade 6t enters the presser-foot slot8! and deflects the edge of the hem fold H inwardly sufi iciently far tocause the needle 54 to descend outside the hem fold and thereby form astitch extending over the edge of the work. The forward feed of thework,in conjunction with the action of the presser-foct it, the returnmovement of the blade 66 and the resiliency of the material beingstitched results. in the needle again penetrating the work in itssubsequent descent and until the hem fold is again deflected by theblade (it. Consequently, the

stitched work presents a scalloped or shell. edge.

34 which is disposed beneath the presser-foot.

Thus, the feed-dog is effective to feed the work beneath thepresser-foot and away from the stitching area. In utilizing the presentmachine for both work-edge scalloping as well as for cord laying, a cord0 is directed from a source of cord supply through one or more of theapertures 89 in the guide 838 and thereafter this cord is led throughthe cord-guiding means '14 of the blade 66 and then is directed beneaththe presserfoot 16. The operation of the machine itself is substantiallythe same as hereinabove described with the blade 66 performing onecomplete reciprocation durin the formation of a plurality of stitches,as for example six stitches. During its advancing movement, the blade toenters the press'er-foot slot at and deflects the edge of'the hem fold Hinwardly sufficiently far to cause the needle Hi to descend outside thehem fold and at the same time the cord-guiding means positions the cordon the left-hand side of the needle so that the needle will descend onthe outside of the cord thereby to form a stitch extending both over theedge of the work as well as over the cord so as to secure the cord tothe edge portion of the work. Thereafter, the blade 66 withdraws fromthe work and the feeding mechanism advances the work which is stitchedin the usual manner until the blade again functions to indent the Workand present the cord to the stitching mechanism. Thus, the cord duringthe normal stitching operation will be laid alongside the scalloped edgeof the work to produce work of the type which is illustrated in Fig. 2.

From the above it will be appreciated that the present cord-guidin meansfunctions not only to present the cord to the work but, at the sametime, it functions to lay the cord along the edge of the work. In orderto perform these functions properly, the cord-guiding means must, on itsbackward movement, shift sufliciently far away from the presser-foot soas to gather a sufficient quantity of slack cord to enable thecordguiding means to lay an optimum amount of cord about the scallopededge, as above noted. In this connection, it is to be understood that aportion of the cord is disposed between the presserfoot 16 and thefeed-dogs and whenever the feeddogs function to feed the work away fromthe stitching area they, at the same time, function to draw the cordthrough the cord-guiding means. However, as the feeding operationcontinues, the blade 65 with its cord-guidin means withdraws from thestitching area and this action, of course, provides the cord-guidingmeans, between the latter element and the presser-foot, with apredetermined length of slack cord, which amount depends upon theamplitude of backward movement of the cord-guiding means. In otherwords, the further the cord-guiding means moves away from thepresser-foot the greater will be the amount of slack cord disposedbetween the cordguidin means and the presser-foot, which cord is to belaid alongside of the successive scallops.

In order to insure that an optimum quantity of slack cord will beprovided between the presserfoot and the cord-guiding means, the presentinvention contemplates a provision of a cord-guiding means which willhave an amplitude of movement which is not necessarily equal to theamplitude of movement of the slide-bar 55. Referring particularly toFigs. 2 and 3, it will be understood that as the slide-bar 55reciprocates back and forth crosswise of the line of scam formation andtoward and away from the presser-foot, the plunger head Tl will contactthe forward portion of the external lug 51 on the withdrawal stroke ofthe slide-bar 55 and thus the rearward motion of the blade 66, togetherwith that of the cord-guiding means, will be arrested to the end thatthe cord-guiding means will have a shorter amplitude of movement thanthe slidebar 55. In other words, the plunger head 11 engages thestationary lug 51, whereby the boss 59 moves relatively to the plunger63 during the continued retracting stroke of the slide-bar 55. Bybacking off the nut 18 from the end portion of the plunger 63, the stud16 may be adjusted relative to the plunger 63 so that the head 11 may beshifted away from or toward the plunger 63. This adjustment will, ofcourse, either lengthen or shorten the amplitude of movement of theblade 66, together with its cord-guiding means. From this, it will beappreciated that the present device may be so adjusted as to provide aproper amount of cord so that the machine may produce different types ofscalloped and corded Work.

Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the present boss59, together with its plunger 63 and the work-indenting blade 65, aswell as the cord-guiding means 74 are adapted to be applied to a sewingmachine as a unitary device, and since the amplitude of movement of theblade 65 and its cord-guiding means may be adjusted, it will be clearthat the present attachment may be applied to various machinesirrespective of the throw of the slide-bar 55. Although the amplitude ofmovement of the plunger t3 may be varied, it is to be understood thatthe forward position which the blade 56 takes relative to thepresser-foot is always the same for any one setting of the boss 59 uponthe stem 58 of the slide-bar 55. In other words, even though theamplitude of backward movement of the plunger 63 is altered, the forwardposition which the blade 6% assumes relative to the presser-foot alwaysremains the same. Thus, the present work-edge indenting and cord-layingmechanism comprises a substantially self-contained unit which may bereadily applied to a standard type sewing machine without involving anygreat expense or undue effort.

Having thus set forth the nature of vention, What I claim herein is:

1. In a sewing machine having stitch-form- 1 ng and work-feedingmechanism, an endwise reciprocatory member having a path of movementcrosswise of the line of scam formation, means for reciprocating saidmember, a workedge indenting and cord-guiding element carried by saidmember for movement with and relatively to said member, and stop-meanslimiting the retracting movement of said element during the continuedretracting movement of said member.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism,work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating saidstitchforming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a work-indenting elementand a cord-guiding ele-. ment each mounted for reciprocation crosswisethe inof the. line seam formation, means including a pair of membersshiftable. relative to eachv other in a straight line direction foroperatively connecting said work-indenting and cord-guiding elementswith said driving means, and means associated with one of said membersfor varying the amplitude of reciprocatory movement of said cord-guidingelement.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanismincluding a presserfoot, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means foractuating said stitch-forming. and work-feeding mechanisms, of awork-indenting element and a cord-guiding element each mountedforreciprocation toward and away from said presser-foot, and crosswiseof the line of seam formation, means including a pair of mem v bersshiftable relative to each other in a straight line direction foroperatively connecting said driving means with said work-indenting andcord guiding elements for reciprocating each of said elements crosswiseof the line of seam formation and to and from and entirely at one sideof a predetermined line disposed adjacent said presser-foot and inparallelism with the line of seam formation, and means associated withone of said members for varying the amplitude of movement of saidcord-guiding element to. and from its associated predetermined line.

4. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanismincluding a presserfoot, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means foractuating said stitch-forming and workfeeding mechanisms, of awork-indenting element mounted for reciprocation toward and away fromsaid presser-foot and crosswise of the line of seam formation,cord-guiding means carried by said element, means including a pair ofmembers shiftable relative to each other in a straight line directionfor operatively connecting said driving means with said work-indentingelement for reciprocating said element crosswise of the line of seamformation and to and from and entirely at one side of a predeterminedline disposed adjacent said presser-foot and in parallelism with theline of seam formation, and means associated with one of said membersfor varying the amplitude of movement of said element to and from thepredetermined line.

5. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism,work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating saidstitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a member mounted forreciprocation crosswise of the line of scam formation, said drivingmeans being connected with said member for reciprocating the latter intimed relation with said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms andthrough a predetermined amplitude, a workedge indenting element carriedby said member, cord-guiding means carried by said member, and meansresponsive to the movements of said member for periodically shiftingsaid cord-guiding means relative to said member so as to cause saidcord-guiding means to have an amplitude of movement relative to the lineof seam formation substantially different from that of said member.

6. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism,work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating saidstitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a member mounted forreciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation, said drivingmeans being connected with said member for recipro:

e ing t e lat n med rela ion w th said stitch-forming and. work-feedingmechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude, a workedge indentingelement carried by said member, cord-guiding means carried by saidmember, means responsive to the movements of said member forperiodically shifting said cord-guiding means relative to said member soas to cause said cord-guiding means to have an amplitude of movementrelative to the line of scam formation substantially different from thatof said member, and means for varying the amplitude of movement of saidcord-guiding means relative t the line of seam formation.

'7. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism,Work-feeding mech-. anism, and driving means for actuating saidstitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a member mounted forreciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation, said drivingmeans being connected with said member for reciproeating the latter intimed relation with said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms andthrough a predetermined amplitude, a work-. edge indenting elementcarried by and mounted for movement lengthwise of said member,cordguiding means carried by said element, and means responsive to themovement of said member for periodically shifting said element length:wise of said member.

8. In a sewing machine, the combination with stitch-forming mechanism,work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating saidstitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms. of a member mounted forreciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation, said drivingmeans being connected with said member for reciprocating the latter intimed relation with said stitch-forming and vork-feeding mechanisms andthrough a predetermined amplitude, a workedge indenting element carriedby and mounted for movements lengthwise of said member, spring meansassociated with said element for biasing said element away from the lineof seam formation, cord-guiding means carried by said element, and meansresponsive to the movements of said member for periodically shiftingsaid element lengthwise of said member and in a direction in oppositionto the action of said spring means.

9. In a sewing machine, the combination with a frame, stitch-formingmechanism, work-feeding mechanism, and driving means for actuating saidstitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms, of a member mounted uponsaid frame for reciprocation crosswise of the line of seam formation,said driving means being connected to said member for reciprocating thelatter in timed relation with said stitch-forming and work-feedingmechanisms and through a predetermined amplitude, a work-edge indentingelement carried by and mounted for movements lengthwise of said member,spring means associated with said element for biasing said element awayfrom the line of seam formation, cord-guiding means carried by saidelement, and means carried by said frame and disposed adjacent saidmember for periodically shifting said element relative to said memberand against the action of said spring means in response to the movementsof said member.

10. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitch-forming mechanism,work-feeding. mechanism, driving means for actuating said stitchformingand work-feeding mechanisms, and a member mounted for reciprocationcrosswise of the line of seam formation, said driving means beingconnected to said member for reciprocating the latter in timed relationwith said stitchforming and work-feeding mechanisms and through apredetermined amplitude; the improvement which consists in the provisionof a combined work-edge indenting and cord-laying device, said devicecomprising a boss removably mounted upon said member, a work-edgeindenting element carried by and mounted for movement relative to saidboss, cord-guiding means carried by said element, and means secured tosaid element for periodically engaging said frame in response to themovements of said member thereby periodically to shift said elementrelative to said boss and said member.

11. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitch-forming mechanism,work-feeding mechanism, driving means for actuating said stitchformingand Work-feeding mechanisms, and a member mounted for reciprocationcrosswise of the line of scam formation, said driving means beingconnected to said member for reciprocating the latter in timed relationwith said stitch-forming and work-feeding mechanisms and through apredetermined amplitude; the improvement which consists in the provisionof a combined work-edge indenting and cord-laying device, said devicecomprising a boss removably mounted upon said member, a work-edgeindenting element carried by and mounted for movement relative to saidboss, cord-guiding means carried by said element, spring means forbiasing said element in one direction, and means secured to said elementfor periodically engaging said frame in response to the movement of saidmember thereby peri-odically to shift said element relative to said bossand said member and in opposition to the action of said spring means.

12. In a sewing machine having a frame, stitch-forming mechanism,work-feeding mechanism, driving means for actuating said stitchformingand work-feeding mechanisms, and a member mounted for reciprocationcrosswise of the line of seam formation, said driving means beingconnected to said member for reciprocating the latter in timed relationwith said stitchforming and work-feeding mechanisms and through apredetermined amplitude; the improvement which consists in the provisionof a combined work-edge indenting and cord-laying device, said devicecomprising a boss removably mounted upon said member, a plunger slidablymounted Within said boss, a work-edge indenting element carried by oneend of said plunger, cordguiding means carried by said element, springmeans for biasing said plunger lengthwise of itself and away from saidstitch-forming mechanism, and means provided on the other end of saidplunger for periodically engaging said frame in response to the movementof said member thereby periodically to shift said plunger relative tosaid boss and in opposition to the action of said spring.

13. A work-indenting attachment for sewing machines, comprising, a bossadapted to be reciprocated back and forth crosswise of the line ofsewing machine seam formation, a work-indenting blade slidably mountedupon said boss, spring means for biasing said blade toward one end ofsaid boss, and means connected with said blade for limiting the movementof said blade relative to said boss.

14. A work-indenting attachment for sewing machines, comprising, anapertured boss adapted to be reciprocated back and forth crosswise ofthe line of sewing machine seam formation, a plunger slidably mountedwithin said boss, a workindenting blade mounted upon one end portion ofsaid plunger, a spring associated with said plunger for biasing saidblade toward said boss, and a head member carried upon the other end ofsaid plunger for engagement with the sewing machine thereby to produce adifierential movement between said boss and said plunger in response tothe movements of said boss.

RAYMOND H. VAN WAGENER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,884,033 Maier Oct. 25, 1932

